Headphones for mixing recordings

[stanko55]

I have a budget from like 100-150 dollars and I want to buy a good pair of headphones. I would be using them to mix recordings on my computer.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[S.Shea]

dont. spend 50 more dollars and buy a cheap pair of moniters. Headphone have to many bad reflections in them, which makes it hard to hear whats really going on with you recordings. Of course it does depend on what room you are in though and how the room itself sounds because the room reflections could be worse. If you really want to mix in headphones i would try some sort of stage IN EAR headphones.

[Fishmed]

Originally Posted by stanko55

I have a budget from like 100-150 dollars and I want to buy a good pair of headphones. I would be using them to mix recordings on my computer.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

If you must mix with headphones, I would go with the AKG K240.

[stanko55]

what type of monitors would you suggest?

[ninjasoards]

Originally Posted by stanko55

I have a budget from like 100-150 dollars and I want to buy a good pair of headphones. I would be using them to mix recordings on my computer.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Mixing on headphones is a bad idea in general.

[taturana]

Originally Posted by Fishmed

If you must mix with headphones, I would go with the AKG K240.

+1 here... but you really neeed monitors....

[John Willett]

Mixing on headphones is much better than mixing on cheap monitors.

The sound of $100 headphones would be roughly the equivalent of £1,000 monitors.

Having said that, it is always best to check any mix on good monitors.

From reading many forums, the headphones that consistently come out most recommended are the Sennheiser HD 650, HD 600 and AKG K 701 - but all these are, unfortunately, over your budget.

You need to find the most neutral and revealing headphones you can find. The AKG K 240 have always been a good choice, as are also the Sennheiser HD 595 in a lower price bracket.

You may find THIS article by Hugh Robjohns in Sound On Sound about mixing on headphones useful; also THIS OTHER ONE by Martin Walker in a later issue of the same magazine on the same subject.

I hope this helps.

[blaugruen7]

i like my audio technica ath-m50 headphones much better than my akg 240.

my musicians ears like very much what they heared when i visited
a mastering studio nearby and heared a mix which was mixed completly
with headphones.
why shouldnt everything be possible?

[James_Avery]

Acutally the AKG 701's are not that far out of his price range if he's wiling to spend an extra 50. Well, they are if you try buying them from Thomann or Sweetwater etc. But there's a good seller on ebay who sells them brand new for a bargain price...

AKG Acoustics K701 K-701 Reference Headphones BRAND NEW - eBay (item 360108274449 end time Nov-24-08 09:53:17 PST)

I got a pair for 210 dollars at close of auction, then 50 dollars shipping from the States to Ireland. Worked out around 260 dollars/200 euro. Shipping would be alot less for you I imagine!

[John Willett]

If you go for the K 701, be aware that they sound horrible out of the box.

They need a *lot* of running in before they sound good.

So leave them running for a week and then listen again.

[Sugarnutz]

Got my ATH-M50s on Ebay for $89 new. This is the straight cord version that I wanted, which none of the usual online dealers had for the $159 regular price. Still not here though, supposedly tomorrow since shipper used DHL.

[Audiop]

Used HD600 would come close to the budget as well and that's my recommendation.

Better for mixing right than both K240 and HD650 IMO.

Haven't used the K701.

/Peter

[James_Avery]

Originally Posted by John Willett

If you go for the K 701, be aware that they sound horrible out of the box.

They need a *lot* of running in before they sound good.

So leave them running for a week and then listen again.

Well, i think "horrible" is not the right word. Straight out of the box they certainly sounded alot better than my old Sennheiser HD280 Pro headphones, much more clearer and open, and accuarate bass. But since I've got them they've had around 50 hours of playing/burn in time, and they've certainly opened up even more. Although, I hear 100 hours is when they start to really shine. (Some say even 200 hours!)

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by James_Avery

Well, i think "horrible" is not the right word. Straight out of the box they certainly sounded a lot better than my old Sennheiser HD280 Pro headphones, much more clearer and open, and accurate bass. But since I've got them they've had around 50 hours of playing/burn in time, and they've certainly opened up even more. Although, I hear 100 hours is when they start to really shine. (Some say even 200 hours!)

"Horrible" was a quote from a friend who has a pair (I use HD 650s). But it's not surprising that they are more "open" than HD 280s - the 280 are closed headphones and the 701 are open. They are totally different headphones designed for different jobs.

My understanding is that the 701s need at least a solid week running in, two is better and they bed in after a month or so.